Slick Rick Becomes U.S. Citizen
Rolling Stone reports that Slick Rick, the English-born rapper behind hip-hop classics like “Mona Lisa” and “Children’s Story,” has been granted his U.S. citizenship after a 23-year legal battle. The influential rapper was sworn in as an American citizen Friday at a ceremony in New York. The U.S. government had previously sought to deport Slick Rick.
In 1991, Slick Rick pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and eight weapons charges stemming from an incident where the rapper shot his cousin Mark Plummer and a bystander. Sentenced to three-and-a-half to 10 years for the shooting, he was released from prison after six years and completed his parole in 2000. During that time, a judge canceled deportation proceedings against the rapper, granting him a waiver of admissibility. In 2008, then-New York Governor David Paterson officially pardoned Slick Rick, citing how he had become “a symbol of rehabilitation for many young people.” “Given these demonstrated rehabilitative efforts, I urge federal immigration officials to once again grant Mr. Walters relief from deportation, so that he is not separated from his many family members who are United States citizens, including his two teenage children,” Paterson said in his statement.
Slick Rick will maintain a dual citizenship with the United Kingdom. The rapper’s U.S. citizenship will now allow for him to travel to and from the country in order to perform overseas.
KJ